House to Unveil Streamlined Transportation Bill

A long-awaited transportation bill will make its debut Thursday when the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee releases a "responsible, multimodal" spending plan likely to come in far below what infrastructure advocates say is needed for the country's highways, bridges and ports. 

According to several sources, the bill, sponsored by T&I Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., will call for between $215 billion and $230 billion over six years. The last transportation bill that was approved under the Bush administration allocated $286.4 billion for six years.

The legislation will be a “responsible, multimodal proposal [that] will streamline federal programs, cut red tape and the bureaucratic project process,” according to a committee announcement.

If the bill passes the Republican-controlled House, it is expected to be well below spending levels that many experts say are needed to rebuild and replace aging transportation infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Senate’s version of a transportation bill is in the final stages of preparation. Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., is expected to propose a two-year bill for about $109 billion. The proposal needs $12 billion more than what is currently available in revenue.

Boxer told reporters on Wednesday that 500,000 transportation jobs would be lost under the House Republicans' budget proposal, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

"I have been working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to develop a bipartisan transportation proposal that will support current funding levels," she said.
 
Boxer's proposal needs $12 billion more than current revenue. She is waiting for a commitment from the Senate Finance Committee to find funds to make up the difference. 

-- Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.